Panil Divina

Brewed by Panil Birra Artigianale - Birrificio Torrechiara
Style: Lambic - Unblended
Torrechiara-Parma, Italy

Bottle: Poured a light dirty yellow color beer with a large pure white foamy head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma consist of bretty barnyard notes with some light tart green apple notes. Taste is also a well balanced mix between some bretty and sour notes with some distinctive barnyard notes and some sour/tart green apple notes. Full body with limited filtration and good carbonation. Very well done with loads of character.

I carried this home from Johnny’s Off License in Rome. I liked it very much. Quite thick for a lambic, but no carbonation which is fine for an unblended lambic. Bright, opaque yellow. Strong aroma of lambic yeast. Flavor has flowers, with a barnyard aroma/flavor. Not Cantillon sour, but quite sour anyway, with some acid and a definite bite.

Mondial 2009 sample. Light colour, light body with lots and lots of head--becomes a white cream that cushions the mouth. Aroma is a delight, peachy and berry. Funky taste, with fruit. Finish is a satisfying bite. Carbonation right there.

Two samples pour into two different shaped Cantillon glasses for a unique comparative glance - one, a small tulip, the other a large tumbler. The pour is slow and even, a lively pure white head with remarkable retention, stronger though in the tumbler. Lacing forms large arcs, the receding foam revealing a very cloudy deep straw/golden body that vaguely resembles white grapefruit juice. The aroma is filled with fresh hay and wheated malts, moderate tartness, lively acidity(this will surely light up the tastebuds), grassiness, fruit mostly of a tropical persuasion(pineapple, tangerine, lemon, apple most notable). Farmhouse funk trickles from the glass, a refined but steady wave of Brettanomyces, wet grass, must and funky yeasts blended into the unmistakable conglomeration that made me seek this out in the first place. A distinct note of a damp, cool cellar emerges - lemon meringue following and blanketing the funk and tartness softly with nuances of a freshly mopped cathedral hall floor. At the culmination of the first nosing of each glass, multi-faceted scent sensations that are interpreted mildly differently from the varying shapes of the glassware present an interesting conclusion: the brewing process has left a distinguished an unforgettable mark on the aroma in a way few beers can adequately express - it still smells like it’s fermenting, out in the open but in a darkened corner, must building and funk developing. The nose is overall a rather timid expression for the style in it’s entirety, though that is no implication of the ferocity of the yeast used and the misleading smack that preludes the finale of each nosing. The flavor is, as expected, milder than a typical Belgian offering. Just like the Wayan saison from Le Baladin, this is summery and refreshing, so in essence it fits the climate in which it originates quite well. A mild to medium level of acidity of lemony spice showcases softened edges. The sweetness level is medium but remains just far enough away from the focal tartness and farmhouse elements to be agreeable. Fruit tastes are soft, fuzzy, intricately woven into a yeast profile that is young and vibrant but still allows a peek into an old world heritage. Must is very generous and I would venture a guess that this would be a reason for very little appeal to a wide spectrum of people. Tartness is mild for the style, otherwise medium. Bitterness only reveals itself briefly in a smooth and fruity finish with hay accents. Tannic oak notes bite into the cheeks as the beer warms, only enhancing the palate. The flavor is certainly mild and at times seems a touch underdeveloped. The mouthfeel is full with velvety, airy pockets, incredibly smooth and perfectly carbonated with stinging acidic interludes and light spice lingering. This is incredibly unusual and very satisfying without ever growing overly intense or tiresome. This does not realize the complexity or unforgettable shocking tartness of some of the best sour beers of Belgium, but it does hold its own and has an air of authenticity that is marvelously spliced with a funky brand of Italian creativity. I feel very fortunate to have sampled this; I hope this recipe is fine-tuned down the line and reappears one day.

Were this a comparative rating set against a shining example of a time-tested Belgian lambic it really wouldn’t score very well. This rating is a peek into my joyful experience trying something new and unique.

Thanks to JK for sharing. It had a hazy yellow color with a ring of white head. A funky aroma with more sour and funk in the body. A thick body and a citrus like quality to the sourness.

Colore giallo opaco,con una gran schiuma bianca e spumosa.Aroma fruttato e pungente di mela,anzi di mela verde.Stessa cosa si può dire del sapore.Direi buona,non la Panil migliore ma buona.

Cloudy yellow in colour with a thin white head, light lacing. Aroma is nicely sour, good tartness, acidic, barnyard, lots of citrus. Flavour is tart and acidic, a bit light, some barnyard, citrus, some spice. Sour mouthfeel, light body, moderate carbonation. Finishes quite dry and acidic.


This is a light Unblended for sure, good mouthfeel and some sweetness picks up at the end. Pretty good.


Bottle at Mondial 2009 in Montreal, Quebec.

Sampled on June 4, 2009.

Bottle, Mondiale 09. Light yellow, bubbly fizzy big white head. Faint aroma - slightly sour, some lemon. Great taste - sour lemon, light malt, a little funky yeast. Quenching - really enjoyed it.